ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Defence
Laying of Roads on Indo-Nepal Border
Ministry of Home Affairs , has informed that the Government has approved 1377 Km of border roads along Indo-Nepal border at an estimated cost of Rs.3853 crore.
In addition, Border Roads Organisation  is entrusted with the construction/improvement of 269.05 Km of roads along the Indo-Nepal border at an estimated cost of Rs.1514 crore.
The details of roads completed and expenditure incurred for the above mentioned roads is given below:
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S/No.
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Name of Agency
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Length 
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Total Cost 
|
|
Length of road laid 
|
|
Expenditure incurred 
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|

|
|
BRO
|
|
269.05
|
|
1514
|
|
64.60
|
|
669.64
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|

|
|
MHA
|
|
1377
|
|
3853
|
|
243.37
|
|
1538.27
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Naik in a written reply to ShriMohd. Ali Khanin Rajya Sabha today.
ABB/Nampi/DK/HS
(
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme launched by Prime Ministerpickspace
3.8 Lakh bovines inseminated in less than 3 months benefitting over 3.7 lakh farmers
Out of the 28 participating States, Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh top list so far
Aims over 1 croreinsemination in 6 months& ear-tag them with ‘PashuAadhaar’
The Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme  which was launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 11th September, 2019 covering 600 chosen districts including aspirational districts as identified by NITI Aayog has pickedup pace. The rate of Artificial Insemination is continuously increasing and has reached an average of 25,000 animals per day so far.The NAIP is a campaign mode genetic upgradation programcovering all breeds of bovines to enhance the milk production using low cost breeding technology for improving genetic merit of milch animals with high quality seed. The gestation period for getting the benefits from the AI bovine is approximately 3 years.
3.8 Lakh Artificial Inseminations have been performed under this programme benefitting more than 3.7 lakh farmers as on 29th November, 2019. The aim of the program to inseminate over 1 crore bovines in 6 months & ear-tag them with ‘PashuAadhaar’ which is a unique identification provided to the animals so as to enable the Government to identify and track the animals uniquely with all details such as the breed, age, gender and owner details. Every cow and buffalo under AI will be tagged and can be tracked through the Information Network on Animal Productivity and Health  Database.
Out of the 28 participating States, High Performing States include Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand. States that have been lagging includeChattishgarh, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh. In the State of West Bengal,the programme is yet to start. North Eastern States except Sikkim are lagging behind and need to expedite the progress so as to ensure that the people in their States can benefit from the programme.Overall A.I coverage in the selected districts is expected to enhance from the present level of 18% to 45% of the breedable bovine females under this programme.
The District Wise Report updated in real time can be accessed at : -https://nadrsapps.gov.in/AIDoneCountReport.aspx
Click here to see the detailed progress report as on 28th November, 2019
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
NHAI to Sign MoU with SBI Tomorrow for a Long Term, unsecured Loan of Rs 25,000 Crore
This is SBI’s Highest Long Term Unsecured Loan to any Entity
Also the Largest Loan Ever Sanctioned to NHAI
National Highways Authority of India  is getting an unsecured loan of Rs 25,000 crore from State Bank of India for 10 years with 3 years of moratorium on repayments. This is the largest amount of loan to have been sanctioned to NHAI in one stroke by any institution. This is also the largest long term unsecured loan sanctioned by SBI at a time to any entity. An MoU in this regard will be signed between the two organizations in the presence of Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation in New Delhi tomorrow.
NHAI had invited an Expression of Interest from Scheduled Commercial Banks to fund Rs. 25000 Crore as an unsecured loan for 10 years with 3 years of moratorium on repayments. In response to this EOI, SBI offered to fund the entire requirement of Rs 25000 Crore based on one month MCLR.
The loan sanctioned by SBI is unsecured. There is no principal repayment liability for initial three years. After three years, the repayment would be done in 14 equal half yearly instalments. The total loan tenure is 10 years. NHAI can repay/ prepay it at any time without any prepayment penalty.
The total sanctioned amount of Rs 25000 Crore is to be disbursed within 31st March 2019. Rate of interest would be based on one month MCLR. Interest accrued on the amount actually outstanding will be paid on monthly basis. NHAI can draw the amount in any number of tranches, latest by 31st March 2019.
NHAI has traditionally relied on borrowing through long term bonds issued to various investors, including LIC, EPFO and other qualified investors, and Tax Free bonds and Masala Bond issued in year 2017.
Ministry of Defence
President Shri Ram Nath Kovind gives away National Florence Nightingale Award 2020 to Brigadier S V Saraswati
Deputy Director General of Military Nursing Service Brig S V Saraswati has been bestowed with the National Florence Nightingale Award 2020. President Shri Ram Nath Kovind conferred the award in a virtual ceremony for her immense contribution to the MNS as nurse administrator. National Florence Nightingale Award is the highest national distinction a nurse can achieve for selfless devotion and exceptional professionalism.
Brig Saraswati hails from Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh and was commissioned in to the MNS on December 28, 1983. She has served in the MNS for more than three and half decades, especially in perioperative nursing. As a renowned operation theatre nurse, she has assisted in more than 3,000 lifesaving and emergency surgeries and has trained residents, operation room nursing trainees and auxiliary staff in her career. She has prepared patient teaching materials and improvised drape kits and suture packing for cardiac surgeries.
Brig S V Saraswati has represented the MNS in various national and international forums. She has conducted various outreach activities for the troops and has trained more than thousand soldiers and families in basic life support. She has rendered her services at various pan-India army hospitals and United Nations Peace Keeping Forces at Congo. She has held various levels of clinical and administrative appointments prior to assuming the present prestigious appointment of Deputy Director General of MNS.
In recognition of her meritorious and distinguished service in nursing profession to the soldiers and their families, she was awarded General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Commendation , United Nations Medal   and Chief of the Army Staff Commendation .
ABB/Nampi/DK/RP
(Visitor Counter : 1945
Ministry of Finance
CBDT rebuts incorrect reports about Income Tax notices to Durga Puja Committees
There have been reports in the media about Income Tax notices being issued to Durga Puja Committees in Kolkata recently. The reports also mention that Income Tax notices were sent to the Durga Puja Committee Forum in the last few weeks. It is unequivocally stated that the said reports are factually incorrect and are strongly denied. It is a fact that no notice was issued to the Durga Puja Committee Forum by the Department during this year.
However, as the Department had been getting information that several contractors who were doing work for the Puja committees were not paying due taxes, therefore notices under section 133 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 were issued in December, 2018 to about 30 committees, calling for details of tax deducted at source on payments made to contractors and event managers etc. engaged by the committees for the Puja events, including the TDS statement. This was part of an exercise carried out by the TDS wing of the Department to ensure that the contractors and event managers pay their due taxes in time. Many of the committees complied and furnished evidence of tax deducted at source as well as deposit of the same into the Government account.
It is also pertinent to state that several committees requested the Department to organise educative sessions to explain the provisions of TDS to the committees. Taking a cue from the same, one such outreach programme was organised on the 16th of July, 2019 for the Durga Puja Committees at their own request. Nearly eight  members of the Forum attended the outreach programme voluntarily and were educated about the provisions of TDS. Their doubts pertaining to TDS provisions were also clarified.
It is reiterated that the aforesaid exercise is in no manner whatsoever against the Puja Committees, but has been undertaken to ensure that the contractors and event managers pay their due taxes correctly within the stipulated time.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 191.32 Cr
Over 3.17Cr 1st dose vaccines administered for age group 12-14 years
India's Active caseload currently stands at17,692
2,487new cases reported in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently stands at 98.74%
Weekly Positivity Rate is presently at 0.62%
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 191.32 Cr  as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 2,39,40,502sessions.
COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on 16 March, 2022. So far, more than 3.17 Cr  adolescents have been administered with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, the COVID-19 precaution dose administration for age group 18-59 years also started from 10th April, 2022 onwards.
The break-up of the cumulative figure as per the provisional report till 7 am today include:
|
|
Cumulative Vaccine Dose Coverage
|
|
HCWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
1,04,06,138
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1,00,29,513
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
50,23,857
|
|
FLWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
1,84,17,603
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1,75,65,055
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
81,69,644
|
|
Age Group 12-14 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
3,17,42,189
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1,20,98,191
|
|
Age Group 15-18 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
5,89,67,941
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
4,39,91,575
|
|
Age Group 18-44 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
55,65,83,062
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
48,46,70,686
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
4,07,396
|
|
Age Group 45-59 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
20,31,39,557
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
18,96,13,860
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
9,93,324
|
|
Over 60 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
12,70,12,594
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
11,81,88,033
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
1,62,74,646
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
3,08,68,867
|
|
Total
|
|
1,91,32,94,864
India’s Active Caseload currently stands at17,692.Active cases now constitute 0.04% of the country's total Positive Cases.
Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.74%. 2,878patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients  is now at 4,25,79,693.
2,487new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
The last 24 hours saw a total of 4,05,156COVID-19tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 84.38Cr  cumulative tests.
Weekly Positivity Rate in the country currently stands at 0.62% and the Daily Positivity rate is reported to be 0.61%.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID - 19 Vaccination Update - Day 592
India’s cumulative vaccination coverage crosses 212.37 Crore
More than 18 lakh Vaccine doses administered today till 7 pm
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 212.37 Crore  today. More than 18 lakh  Vaccine Doses have been administered till 7 pm today. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late tonight.
The cumulative coverage of vaccine doses, segregated based on population priority groups, is as follows:
|
|
Cumulative Vaccine Dose Coverage
|
|
HCWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
10414071
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
10106452
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
6752883
|
|
FLWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
18434558
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
17698494
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
13143648
|
|
Age Group 12-14 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
40319633
|
|
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
30197328
|
|
Age Group 15-18 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
61676488
|
|
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
52325570
|
|
Age Group 18-44 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
560582012
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
513071915
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
62548259
|
|
Age Group 45-59 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
203903273
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
196313325
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
35080534
|
|
Over 60 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
127579853
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
122706882
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
40851532
|
|
Cumulative 1st dose administered
|
|
1022909888
|
|
Cumulative 2nd dose administered
|
|
942419966
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
158376856
|
|
Total
|
|
2123706710
Today’s achievement in the vaccination exercise, segregated by population priority groups, is as follows:
|
|
Date: 30th August, 2022 
|
|
HCWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
31
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
228
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
7483
|
|
FLWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
52
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
381
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
16992
|
|
Age Group 12-14 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
19325
|
|
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
40362
|
|
Age Group 15-18 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
7420
|
|
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
19843
|
|
Age Group 18-44 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
16072
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
71013
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
962166
|
|
Age Group 45-59 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
3075
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
16897
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
438084
|
|
Over 60 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
2091
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
10085
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
177256
|
|
Cumulative 1st dose administered
|
|
48066
|
|
Cumulative 2nd dose administered
|
|
158809
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
1601981
|
|
Total
|
|
1808856
The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level.
Ministry of Defence
Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi Takes Over as Flag Officer Commanding-IN-Chief, Western Naval Command
Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, AVSM, NM took over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief , Western Naval Command  from Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC at an impressive Ceremonial Parade held at INS Shikra on 28 Feb 23. On taking over, the Flag Officer paid homage to all personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the Nation by placing a floral wreath at the Gaurav Stambh . Prior to taking over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Vice Admiral Tripathi served as the Chief of Personnel at the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence .
An alumnus of Sainik School Rewa and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, he was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 1985. A Communication and Electronic Warfare specialist, he served on frontline warships of the Navy as Signal Communication Officer and Electronic Warfare Officer, and later as the Executive Officer and Principal Warfare Officer of Guided Missile Destroyer INS Mumbai. He commanded Indian Naval Ships Vinash, Kirch and Trishul. He has also held various important operational and staff appointments which include Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet at Mumbai, Director of Naval Operations, Principal Director Network Centric Operations and Principal Director Naval Plans at New Delhi. On promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral, he served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff  at IHQ MoD and as the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.
On promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral in Jun 2019, the Flag Officer was appointed as Commandant of the prestigious Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala, Kerala. He was the Director General of Naval Operations from Jul 2020 to May 2021, a period that witnessed a high tempo of Naval Maritime Operations. He ensured that Navy remained a combat ready, cohesive and credible force, ready to address a host of complex security challenges despite all round severity of COVID Pandemic.
The Admiral is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, where he was awarded the Thimmaiya Medal. He also attended Naval Higher Command Course and Naval Command College at the US Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Islands in 2007-08, where he won the Prestigious Robert E Bateman International Prize.
Vice Admiral Tripathi is a recipient of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Nausena Medal for devotion to duty. He is also a keen sportsman and avidly follow tennis, badminton, and cricket. The Flag Officer is a keen student of international relations, military history, and art & science of leadership. He is married to Mrs Shashi Tripathi, an artist and homemaker and the couple have one son, who is a practicing lawyer.
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MK/VM/PS
(Visitor Counter : 587
Cabinet
Cabinet approves Cadre review of Posts & Telegraphs Building Works Service , Group A
The Union Cabinet Chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the Cadre Review of Posts & Telegraphs Building Works Service, Group ‘A’.
The number of Duty posts was fixed as 105. The approval would result in strengthening of the cadre structure both at the headquarters and in the field units of Department of Telecommunications and Department of Posts on the basis of functional requirements. This will reduce the existing stagnation of P&T BWS officers. It was also decided that there will be no fresh recruitment into the Cadre, and the cadre will be phased out in such a manner that there is no adverse impact on the incumbents.
Background:
The Posts & Telegraphs Building Works Service , Group A, was constituted in 1990 as an organized Group A service. The service comprises of three wings - Civil, Electrical and Architecture - and caters to the Department of Telecommunications  and Department of Posts . Selected through Combined Engineering Services Examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission, the officers of P&T BWS are working in management and administrative positions in the Department of Telecommunications , Department of Posts , PSUs of DoT, and also on deputation in other Central Ministries/ Departments/ Autonomous Bodies and State Governments. Since the inception of the service in 1990, no cadre review of the Service has been done so far and is long overdue.
Formation of BSNL had affected the functions as well as cadre strength of the service with absorption of various officers in BSNL. After the transfer of telecom operations, service and functions of DoT to BSNL, the P&T BWS is left with the responsibility for maintenance of assets of DoT and DoP, handling of new projects, inspection of electromechanical installations as per Central Electricity Authority Regulations, 2010, formulation of guidelines, standards and specifications for Telecom Installations, ensuring implementation of green initiatives, monitoring of EMF radiations etc. for the entire ambit of Telecom sector, both public and private, and to meet the building infrastructure needs of Department of Telecommunications and Department of Posts.
These facts coupled with the stagnation in various grades of the service necessitated a review of the structure of P&T BWS. Accordingly, a cadre structure of P&T BWS officers was approved, which is considered essential for discharge of the role & obligations of the Department of Telecommunications and Department of Posts.
The Cadre Strength was restricted to the present working strength of the cadre, and the cadre review would entail no fresh financial commitment for Government.
Ministry of Culture
National Monuments Authority to organise Astrophysical study of the movement of the sun around Qutub Minar, on the occasion of International Day of Yoga tomorrow
On the International Day of Yoga tomorrow, National Monuments Authority will organize an Astro physical analysis of the movement of the sun around the Qutub Minar with the help of Ministry of Science & Technology. The study will determine if Qutub Minar is tilted at a certain angle, does it have any astronomical significance, and whether there is a zero shadow of the Minaret at local noon on 21st June. The study begins at 11.30 AM on 21st June and will go on till 1.30 PM. Some special devices are being used and an App has also been created to help the people to track the event.
Senior Scientists and Surveyors have formed a team as requested by National Monuments Authority for the study that include Dr. Neruj Mohan Ramanujan, Head of the Scientific Communications Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore; Dr. Virendra Yadav, Senior Scientist from Arya Bhatt Research Institute of Observational Sciences and Shri Rajiv Dhyani from Survey of India . They will make a study and submit a report to Chairman, National Monuments Authority, Shri Tarun Vijay.
Scientists will try to measure the length of the shadow every 10 minutes or so, starting at 11.30 am, going on to about 1.30 pm. Not only will this tell us if there is zero shadow at local noon, it will also help us track the progression of the shadow length, said Shri Tarun Vijay.
Given the dimensions of the Qutub Minar, it will be possible to calculate the tilt angle from these measurements. For some angles of the tilt, it is expected that the shadow at local noon will fall on the ground and for some, will fall on the tower itself. For this purpose, a device to measure vertical angles, for the latter case, has been requisitioned.
The astronomical event will be preceded by a Yoga event at Vishnu Garud Dhwaj .
Ministry of Finance
Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman leads Indian delegation in 11th UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue
The 11th India-United Kingdom Economic and Financial Dialogue  was held here today, virtually chaired by Indian Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and the United Kingdom Treasury Chancellor Mr. Rishi Sunak.
The Indian delegation included Governor RBI, Chairman SEBI, Chairman IFSCA, Secretary Economic Affairs and other representatives from Ministry of Finance, Ministry of External Affairs and Indian High Commission, UK.
The UK delegation included Governor Bank of England, CEO Financial Conduct Authority, Economic Secretary and other representatives from UK HMT.
The Dialogue, inter alia, covered discussions on economic cooperation on multilateral issues, including G20 and COP26. Both sides deliberated on furthering of Financial Services collaboration with special emphasis on Fin-Tech and GIFT City, annual India-UK Financial Market Dialogue and measures underway to reform financial markets. Infrastructure development and promotion of sustainable finance and climate finance were also discussed.
Private sector initiatives under India-UK Financial Partnership  and India-UK Sustainable Finance Working Group including its progress were also discussed. The Climate Finance Leadership Initiative  India partnership was launched today by both sides which aims to work with financial institutions, corporates, and existing sustainable finance initiatives to accelerate efforts to mobilise capital into India. Both sides agreed to continue to work together to mobilise finances via multilateral and private means and sharing relevant experience, including of the UK’s upcoming sovereign green bond issuance.
The 11th Economic and Financial Dialogue concluded with adoption of Joint Statement by Union Finance Minister and Chancellor of Exchequer of United Kingdom and release of the Joint Statement on Climate Finance Leadership Initiative  India partnership.
Enclosure:
1. Joint Statement of 11th India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue
2. Joint Statement of Climate Finance Leadership Initiative Partnership